Impatiens plant named ‘TUCKMAS’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Impatiens walleriana,  ‘TUCKMAS’, characterized by its foliage that is variegated with green centers and greenish-white to white margins and occasional solid gold leaves during mid summer, its scarlet red flowers, its ability to be readily propagated by stem cuttings, and its similar vigor to vegetatively propagated non-variegated cultivars of  Impatiens  known to the Inventors and seed raised  Impatiens  known to the inventors.

Botanical classification: Impatiens walleriana.

Cultivar designation: ‘TUCKMAS’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofImpatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens walleriana ‘TUCKMAS’ andwill be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘TUCKMAS’.

The Inventors discovered the new cultivar, ‘TUCKMAS’, during productionof seed raised Impatiens in their nursery in Burton-on Trent,Straffordshire, United Kingdom in February 2006. ‘TUCKMAS’ wasdiscovered as a whole plant mutation as a single seedling from seedgrown of the seed strain Impatiens walleriana ‘F1 TEMPO’ (not patented).

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stemcuttings under the direction of the Inventors in Knutsford, Cheshire,United Kingdom. Propagation has determined that the characteristics ofthis cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of ‘TUCKMAS’. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘TUCKMAS’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens.

-   -   1. ‘TUCKMAS’ exhibits foliage that is variegated with green        centers and greenish-white to white margins.    -   2. ‘TUCKMAS’ exhibits similar vigor to vegetatively propagated        non-variegated cultivars of Impatiens known to the Inventors and        seed raised Impatiens.    -   3. ‘TUCKMAS’ exhibits occasional solid gold leaves during mid        summer.    -   4. ‘TUCKMAS’ exhibits scarlet red flowers.    -   5. ‘TUCKMAS’ is readily propagated by stem cuttings.

The new cultivar, ‘TUCKMAS’, differs from its parental seed strain inhaving variegated foliage, whereas the foliage of the parental strain issolid green. ‘TUCKMAS’ is unique from other variegated forms ofImpatiens known to the Inventors in its ease and vigor during vegetativepropagation. There are also no known variegated cultivars of Impatiensreproduced by seed known to the Inventors at the time of thisapplication. ‘TUCKMAS’ can be compared to ‘Fiesta Ole Peppermint’ (notpatented), which differs from ‘TUCKMAS’ in having foliage with a thinwhite margin and in having double flowers that are pink and whitebi-color in color. ‘TUCKMAS’ can also be compared to ‘Variegata’ (notpatented), which differs from ‘TUCKMAS’ in having grey-green leaves witha thin white margin, in being taller in height with a more open planthabit, and in having bright pink flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Impatiens. The photographs weretaken of six month-old plants of ‘TUCKMAS’ as grown in a 12-planthanging module in the United Kingdom.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides an overall image of ‘TUCKMAS’ inbloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the flowers of‘TUCKMAS’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a view of the foliage of ‘TUCKMAS’with a newly emerged leaf on the left, a maturing leaf in the center,and a fully mature leaf on the right.

The photograph is FIG. 4 provides a view of the occasional,non-variegated golden colored leaves that are present in mid season. Thecolors in the photographs are as close as possible with the digitalphotography techniques available, the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description accurately describe the colors of the newImpatiens.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of 6 month-old, greenhouse grownplants of the new cultivar as grown in 3-liter containers and hangingmodules in Liss, Hampshire, and Banbury, Oxfordshire United Kingdom. Thephenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental,climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under allpossible environmental conditions. The color determination is inaccordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of the Royal HorticulturalSociety, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinarydictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: ‘TUCKMAS’ is a cultivar of Impatiens    walleriana.-   General characteristics:    -   -   Blooming period.—Continuous through the growing season until            November in the United Kingdom.        -   Plant habit.—Herbaceous annual with spreading growth habit.        -   Height and spread.—Reaches about 19 cm in height and about            50 cm in spread.        -   Cold hardiness.—U.S.D.A. Zone 10.        -   Diseases and pests.—Has been observed to be tolerant to            mildew in Europe.        -   Root description.—Fibrous roots.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branched, lateral branches forming            at about 80° from main stem.-   Stem description:    -   -   Stem.—Round to slightly angular with age, 25 cm in length            and 5 mm in width, 145B in color, surface glabrous.        -   Internode length.—5 to 8 mm in middle of stem.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Broadly elliptic.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Cuneate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acuminate.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, 138A in color on upper surface and            143A on lower surface.        -   Leaf margins.—Crenate with bristles between teeth.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaf surface.—Glabrous.        -   Leaf color.—Young upper surface: center 143A and margin            144B; young lower surface: center 143D and margin 145C;            maturing upper surface: center 137B with patches 188B and            margin 1B; maturing lower surface: center 143D and margin            150C; mature upper surface: center 189A with patches 188B            and margin 8D; mature lower surface: center 137C and margin            154D; in mid season occasional leaves occur that are 154C in            color and non-variegated.        -   Leaf size.—Average of 9.5 cm in length and 5.0 cm in width.        -   Leaf quantity.—Average of 26 per lateral branch.        -   Petiole.—3.5 to 4.0 cm in length and 3 mm in width, base and            lower surface 145D in color, distal end 146D in color, 1 to            3 nectariferous glands.-   Flower description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Single, rotate.        -   Lastingness of flowers.—About 7 days, self cleaning.        -   Flower size.—Average of <1 mm in length excluding spur and            4.1 cm in diameter.        -   Flower fragrance.—None.        -   Flower arrangement.—2 flowers per peduncle produced in leaf            axils.        -   Flower number.—Average of 2 per branch.        -   Flower aspect.—Upwards or outward.        -   Flower bud size.—Average of 1.2 mm in length, up to 9.0 mm            in width.        -   Flower bud color.—Upper side 157D and 143C, lower side 157D            and 186D.        -   Flower bud shape.—Broadly ovate, asymmetrically flattened.        -   Petal number.—5, unfused.        -   Petal shape.—Rounded, trimorphic.        -   Petal color.—Mature upper surface; 43A; mature lower surface            41C; larger petal upper surface distinct, 41C in color, with            central stripe 144D and lateral margins 155C.        -   Petal surface.—Glabrous, slightly waxy.        -   Petal margin.—Entire.        -   Petal size.—2 small petals 2 cm in length and 1.9 cm in            width, 2 medium petals 2.4 cm in length and 1.8 cm in width,            1 large petal 2.8 cm in length and 1.7 cm in width.        -   Sepal number.—3; 2 small lateral and 1 large extended into a            long spur.        -   Sepal shape.—Lateral sepals linear, lower sepal ovate            extending into a long spur.        -   Sepal margin.—Entire.        -   Sepal size.—Lateral sepals 2 mm in length and 0.5 mm in            width; lower sepal base 1.4 cm in length and 1.1 cm in width            extending into a long spur 3.5 cm in length and 1 mm in            width.        -   Sepal surface.—Glabrous.        -   Sepal apex.—Acute.        -   Sepal base.—Lateral sepals cuneate, spurred sepal truncate            to spur.        -   Sepal color.—Lateral sepals 144B; spurred sepal; 155D            blended with 185B towards base, spur 181D in color.        -   Peduncle.—Round, 2.5 to 3.5 cm in length and 2 mm in            diameter.        -   Peduncle color.—144D.        -   Pedicel.—Round, 1.7 cm in length and 1 mm in width, 144C to            144D in color.        -   Bracteole.—4, linear in shape, 3 mm in length, 0.5 mm in            width, 144B to 144C in color, glabrous.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—1 pistil, 5 lobed stigma <1 mm in length, 144B in            color, style absent, superior ovary ovoid in shape, 2 mm in            length and 1 mm in width, 144B in color.        -   Androcoecium.—5 stamens; anthers fused forming a cap over            gynoecium, 1 mm in length and 1.5 mm in width; filaments            minute, 77A in color; pollen abundant, N74A in color.        -   Fruit/seeds.—Capsule, 5 locules, dehiscent, seeds harvested            and planted at the time of this application have not            produced any seedlings with variegated leaves.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘TUCKMAS’ asherein illustrated and described.